France committed to defend JCPOA: French FM
Tehran, Jan 31, IRNA - French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Monday that Paris is committed to defend the nuclear deal known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached between Iran and G5+1(US, UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany).
France's foreign minister said upon arrival in Tehran that being bound to the JCPOA benefits all.
Underling his country’s commitment to defend the JCPOA, he said it is necessary that Iran remains committed to the deal, too.
There are real concerns about the US government stance towards the nuclear deal, the French foreign minister added.
'I'm coming as the defender of the accord, but to be vigilant and explain that they (the Iranians) must be irreproachable,' Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters after landing in Tehran, according to Reuters.
'We harbor real concerns about the U.S. administration's attitude towards this agreement,' he said.
Ayrault said that Tehran had 'largely' kept to the terms of the nuclear deal.
'We want this agreement to be respected.'
Commenting on the visa ban imposed by the US on seven Muslim-majority nations, including Iran, allegedly to protect Americans from terrorist attacks, the French top diplomat said the measures were 'dangerous' and amounted to 'discrimination'.
'This has nothing to do with fighting terrorism,' Ayrault told reporters.
According to Associated Press, Ayrault said the nuclear deal is 'already bearing fruit' with economic deals and giving new impetus to Franco-Iranian exchanges between business people, students and tourists.
Ayrault, leading a politico-economic delegation arrived in Iran on Monday evening for a two-day visit.
During his two-day official visit, French foreign minister is to confer with President Hassan Rouhani, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani on issues of mutual interest along with regional and global developments.
Tehran-Paris Joint Economic Commission meeting is to be held at the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran.
A number of local French officials, representatives of about 60 French companies and some media persons accompany French foreign minister during the visit.